Obama's 'closing argument' speech in Ohio focused on economy

Tuesday

Oct 28, 2008 at 12:01 AMOct 28, 2008 at 4:23 AM

Like an applicant seeking to secure a job offer in his final interview, Barack Obama came to Canton, Ohio, on Monday afternoon to close the sale, delivering a half-hour "closing argument speech" at Memorial Civic Center that sought to address any remaining doubts by voters eight days before the election.

Robert Wang

Like an applicant seeking to secure a job offer in his final interview, Barack Obama came to Canton on Monday afternoon to close the sale, delivering a half-hour "closing argument speech" at Memorial Civic Center that sought to address any remaining doubts by voters eight days before the election.

Focusing almost entirely on the weakened economy, Obama, the Democratic candidate for president, spoke before an audience of about 4,900.

"If we want to get through this crisis, we need to get beyond the old ideological debates that divide us between the left and the right," said Obama. "We don't need bigger government or smaller government. We need better government."

The Illinois senator promised that he would: Cut taxes for nearly all taxpayers earning less than $250,000 a year, raise taxes for the wealthy to the rates of the 1990s, make health insurance affordable and accessible, invest money in early childhood education, help pay college tuition for students who agree to perform national service, prevent foreclosures, eliminate federal income taxes for seniors earning less than $50,000, eliminate capital gains taxes for small businesses, end the Iraq war to save $10 billion a month, discourage the offshoring of jobs with $3,000 tax credits for each job companies create domestically and generate more than two million jobs by investing in infrastructure improvements and renewable energy.

Obama said funding these initiatives would require eliminating unneeded federal programs. He did not say which ones were unneeded.

"At a moment like this, the last thing we can afford is four more years of the tired, worn-out old theory that says ... we should give more to billionaires and big corporations and hope that prosperity trickles down on everybody else. ... The last thing we can afford is four more years where no one in Washington is watching anyone on Wall Street because politicians and lobbyists killed common-sense regulations. Those are the theories that got us into this mess. They haven't worked, and it is time for change."

Repeating themes from his convention speech in August, he reiterated that government can't solve everyone's problems, but should do what people are unable to do for themselves, including ensuring businesses generate jobs for Americans.

"It should ensure a shot at success, not just for those with money and power and influence, but for every single American who's willing to work," he said. "John McCain calls this socialism. I call it opportunity. ... The choice of this election isn't between tax cuts and no tax cuts, it's about whether you believe we should only reward wealth. Or whether we should also reward the workers ... who create wealth."

Obama, who was repeatedly interrupted by enthusiastic applause and chants of "Obama," said Republican presidential candidate John McCain had not yet proposed doing anything to address the economic troubles that's different from what President Bush would do.

"It is time, Canton, to try something new," Obama said. "The question in this election is not: 'Are you better off than you were four years ago?' We all know the answer to that. The real question is: 'Will this country be better off four years from now?'"

Obama also referred to perceived insinuations by some Republicans.

"Despite what our opponents may claim, there are no real or fake parts of this country. There's no city or town that's more pro-America than anywhere else. We're one nation. All of us proud. All of us patriots."

Though he enjoys a lead in the polls, the candidate, before departing for a rally in Pittsburgh, urged his supporters to avoid overconfidence.

"Canton, don't believe for a second this election's over," he said. "We have to work like our future depends on it in this last week because it does depend on it this week."

As Obama's words built to a crescendo, the audience in the Civic Center stood up and intensified their applause.

"In one week, we can choose hope over fear. And unity over division. The promise of change over the power of the status quo. In one week, we can come together as one nation and one people," Obama said, as his voice grew louder. "That's what's at stake. That's what we're fighting for."

McCain, who was in Cleveland on Monday morning meeting with business leaders, issued statements that said Obama's plan would "destroy business growth, kill jobs, and lead to continued declines in the stock market and make a recession even deeper and more painful," and that Obama "was unable to support his rhetoric with a single accomplishment."

Wal-Mart pharmacy employee Cookie Jackson, 66, of Brown Township in Carroll County, said she thought Obama's address was "right on. ... because the middle class has been downtrodden for so long. ... Everybody has the right to be successful, (but) it's greed when they bring it to a certain point, when they have all the money they wish to spend, and they want more."

Hoover Company retiree Donna Massey of Canton, who came to the Civic Center with her niece, daughter and granddaughter, called the speech "terrific."

"It's something (my granddaughter will) be able to tell her grandchildren about," said Massey, who said the address resonated with her because her daughter was laid off from Hoover.

Adam Lee, 28, of Canton, said the speech was "excellent." Lee said he was released from prison in 2005 after convictions for auto theft and domestic violence. Previously unaware that released felons are allowed to vote in Ohio, he said he didn't register to vote until this year. As a restaurant dishwasher, he said his employer offers health insurance but charges employees premiums of $200 a month.

"I can't afford health care right now," he said. "I need it. Hopefully, (Obama) does what he can, (so) I'll be able to get it."

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